'Even in his laziest moments, Presley was a master of intonation and phrasing, delivering his rich baritone with a disarming naturalness. And when he caught a spark from his great T.C.B. Band, Presley could still out-sing anyone in American pop. You can hear it here on inspired versions of Muddy Waters' 'Got My Mojo Working' (1971), Wayne Carson's 'Always on My Mind'(1972), Chuck Berry's 'Promised Land' (1975), McCartney's 'Lady Madonna' (1970), Percy Mayfield's 'Stranger in My Own Hometown'(1969), Dennis Linde's 'Burning Love' (1972) and Joe South's 'Walk a Mile in My Shoes' (1970).
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Even in relaxed moments, Elvis mastered intonation and phrasing, and with his T.C.B. Band he could out‑sing any American pop singer, covering diverse songs from blues to rock.
- In plain terms
- He was great at pitch and style, and could out‑sing peers with his band.
- What can you take from it?
- Strong musical collaboration enhances vocal performance.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How does a backing band influence a vocalist?
- What makes a singer stand out across genres?
Another view
The claim of 'out‑sing anyone' is subjective.
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